Articles filed under U.S. Congress

Congressman facing heat bested Roskam for job this summerDec 30, 2014 6:01 PMBy Mike Riopell
The Louisiana Republican now facing heat for speaking at a 2002 conference of white supremacists is the lawmaker who stood between U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam and the House’s No. 3 spot this summer.

Gay blood donor restrictions discriminatory. congressman saysDec 24, 2014 10:28 AMAssociated Press
An Illinois congressman says he’s disappointed federal health officials still favor limiting when gay men can donate blood.
Rep. Mike Quigley has been working to reverse the Food and Drug Administration’s lifetime ban on blood donations from gay and bisexual men. The FDA said Tuesday it favors barring donations from men who have had sex with men in the previous 12 months.
The Illinois Democrat says the one-year deferral is still discriminatory.
The lifetime ban dates from the early years of the AIDS crisis and was intended to protect the blood supply. Many medical groups say the policy is no longer supported by science, given advances in HIV testing.
Blood donations are screened for HIV but testing only detects the virus after it’s been in the bloodstream about 10 days

Republicans in charge of Senate — but 2016 awaitsDec 22, 2014 6:25 AMBy Erica Werner
Republicans have the Senate majority now and are set to challenge President Barack Obama and the Democrats on Capitol Hill this January. But a much tougher election map two years from now could force the GOP back into the minority. In November 2016, Republicans will defend 24 seats, Democrats 10. Seven of the GOP seats are in states President Barack Obama won with 50 percent or more of the vote in 2012.

Top leaders give Cuba move mixed reviewsDec 17, 2014 6:44 PMDaily Herald Staff Report
Local leaders react after President Barack Obama Wednesday announced the release of American prisoner Alan Gross from Cuba and a move toward a diplomatic relationship with the country.

Kirk honored at retirement ceremonyDec 15, 2014 5:16 PMBy Mike Riopell
U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk was honored at a Penatgon ceremony Monday celebrating his retirement from the Navy, where he spent more than 20 years in the reserves.

Roskam gets post to help lead IRS investigationsDec 4, 2014 1:58 PMBy Mike Riopell
U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam, a Wheaton Republican, will have a new post in the next Congress that could have him presiding over hearings into ongoing Internal Revenue Service scandals.

Ex-Walsh aide’s dig at Obama daughters sparks backlashDec 1, 2014 1:51 PMBy Missy Ryan
The communications director for a Republican member of Congress ignited a firestorm this weekend when she criticized President Barack Obama’s teenage daughters in a Facebook post that touched a nerve even for Americans accustomed to political mudslinging.

Abner Mikva among Presidential Medal of Freedom recipientsNov 25, 2014 9:46 AMBy Nedra Pickler
President Barack Obama on Monday bestowed America's highest civilian honor on trailblazers in the arts, sports and politics — including former suburban 10th District Rep. Abner Mikva — along with a couple of entertainers who are among his personal favorites.

Riopell: Kirk says 2016 opponents have ‘quite a hill to climb’Nov 21, 2014 6:27 AMBy Mike Riopell
Eyes now turn to the 2016 election, and Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk told Political Editor Mike Riopell he's confident he'll be re-elected. "No way am I going to retire," said Kirk, who'll be in the majority party come January.

Local leaders react to Obama’s immigration planNov 20, 2014 9:22 PMDaily Herald report
Elected leaders representing the suburbs and state reacted to President Obama's speech Thursday that spares roughly 5 million people in the United States illegally from deportation. Obama's executive order protects those who have been in the country illegally for more than five years and have had children here who are U.S. citizens. Congressional Democrats hailed the president's directive, but Republicans have insisted Obama is overstepping his authority.

U.S. Rep. Duckworth delivers healthy daughterNov 20, 2014 1:27 PMBy Mike Riopell
U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth has delivered a healthy daughter, her staff says. “My husband Bryan and I are thrilled to announce that we are the proud parents of a baby girl. Abigail O’kalani Bowlsbey was born on November 18,” she said in a statement. “Bryan and I were deeply honored that Senator Akaka acted as Hawaiian elder and selected her middle name.

Crane remembered as conservative pioneerNov 16, 2014 6:13 AMBy Mick Zawislak
Longtime Congressman Phil Crane, who died Nov. 8, is remembered as a leader in the conservative movement. The Wauconda resident helped develop strategies for conservative Republicans in Congress and stuck to those principles through a 35-year career.

Suburban women in politics on Jane Byrne as an inspirationNov 16, 2014 11:10 AM
Suburban women in politics said Friday they owe a lot to Jane Byrne for making it clear that women, too, could be players in the political arena. “She was an inspiration for me,” former Palatine Mayor Rita Mullins said. “(Her election) gave any woman the idea that it was possible that a woman could be mayor."

Dold a’going to the freshman dance, againNov 13, 2014 5:06 PMBy Mike Riopell
Newly elected Bob Dold arrived in Washington, D.C. Wednesday for freshman orientation, the weeklong look at all you need to know to be a member of Congress. Not many people go through freshman orientation a second time.

10 years after losing her legs, Duckworth returns to flyingNov 13, 2014 5:49 AMBy Mike Riopell
“When I got back in a helicopter, it felt like home.” Ten years after she lost her legs when a rocket-propelled grenade hit her helicopter in Iraq, Tammy Duckworth is beginning to fly again. This has been a year of many changes for Duckworth, who said she misses being a soldier but finds strength in her friendship with the soldiers who saved her life.

The day Capt. Tammy Duckworth was shot downNov 14, 2014 11:04 AMBy Mike Riopell
"We were almost home." Captain Tammy Duckworth and her crew were minutes from their base in Balad, Iraq, when a rocket-propelled grenade hit their Black Hawk helicopter and forced it down in enemy territory on Nov. 12, 2004. It was 10 years ago today when Duckworth lost her both legs and partial use of one arm and launched a career in politics. This is the story of that critical moment and of the soldiers who saved her life.

The crew on Nov. 12, 2004Nov 11, 2014 11:45 AM
Ten years ago today, U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth was piloting a Black Hawk helicopter that was shot down over Iraq. That critical moment cost her both legs and partial use of one arm and launched a career in politics. On the annivesary, she and her former crew members talk in detail about what happened in Iraq and their journeys over the past decade.

What is Duckworth’s future in politics?Nov 11, 2014 6:44 PMBy Mike Riopell
U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth signature TV ad in her campaign for re-election featured Black Hawk helicopters flying and focused on legislation to help veterans. “I used to fly to work at 140 mph,” she says in the spot. Being a veteran is a key part of Duckworth’s political identity and one that can appeal to independent voters as she pursues politics in the future. Yet, her own history shows it doesn’t make her immune to political defeat,

NAMI walk raises $1000,00 to help those with mental illness
Nov 11, 2014 4:20 PMSubmitted by NAMI CCNS
More than 600 people came with their dogs to NAMIWalks, a 5K walk sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness–Cook County North Suburban. The walk was on Saturday, Oct. 18., in Blue Star Memorial Woods, Glenview Woods, and Harms Woods in Glenview.